Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson of Partido Reporma said Monday one who would pass the test of money and power would be fit to be the leader of the 110 million Filipino people.
Meanwhile, Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III are scheduled to visit their allies and supporters in selected Visayan provinces this week for a series of “Online Kumustahan” gatherings and other activities.
The Lacson-Sotto tandem are expected to barnstorm some cities and municipalities across Cebu, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, and Northern Samar this weekend beginning this Friday (December 10) until Sunday, the Lacson camp said in a statement.
Lacson cited the need for the next leader to uphold integrity by practicing what he preached, adding the ultimate test of a person’s character would give him power and offer him money. “If he passes this test, he is the ‘leader we need,’” he said.
During his law enforcement career, Lacson said he passed such tests of money and power by consistently declining rewards from grateful kin of kidnap victims he rescued while he was with the Philippine Constabulary, the predecessor of the Philippine National Police.
The victims he rescued, according to records, included Robina Gokongwei and a then nine-year-old boy from a prominent Cebu family.
When he was assigned to head the Philippine National Police in Laguna in 1992, Lacson also refused offers of monthly hush money, ranging from P1.2 million to P1.8 million — in exchange for allowing illegal gambling operations to operate.
He even dared his men to tie him to the provincial command’s flagpole and shoot him. “There’s the flagpole. Tie me there and shoot me,” he recalled telling them.
Not only did Lacson “win” that dare — he went on to serve as PNP chief from 1999 to 2001 where he cracked down on “kotong” (extorting) cops and strongly implemented his “no-take” policy.
Also, he refused and inculcated in the members of his directorial staff to shun offers of money for the procurement of PNP supplies from contractors doing business with the PNP.
He likewise refused to avail himself of the P100-million-a-year so-called “commander’s reserve” (a.k.a. discretionary fund) of the Chief, PNP.
These, combined with his leadership by example as top cop, earned the PNP the trust of the public – with a high 64-percent approval rating for the PNP and a 73-percent approval rating for Lacson as its chief.
As senator, Lacson — a staunch crusader against corruption – also refused not just his P200-million-a-year pork barrel allocations, but also lobby or “goodwill” money from groups seeking favorable legislation.